Former marine recognized for battle injuries

Friday

Nov 23, 2012 at 8:04 PM

When 17-year-old J.W. Owensby enlisted in the Marine Corps., he could not have imagined that four years later he would join the elite group of servicemen to earn the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

By LYNNE P. SHACKLEFORDlynne.shackleford@shj.com

When 17-year-old J.W. Owensby enlisted in the Marine Corps., he could not have imagined that four years later he would join the elite group of servicemen to earn the Military Order of the Purple Heart.Owensby, a still fresh-faced, now married father of one, has spent hundreds of hours contemplating the service medal with a storied history dating back to George Washington.“The Purple Heart is an award you don't want,” Owensby said. “That's the last award you want because to receive it means you've lost your life defending your country or suffered an injury in a combat zone. You've been shot, lost limbs, had a traumatic brain injury.”Owensby, of Gaffney, comes from a long line of servicemen. In short, serving in the Marines was in his blood. His father, James, is a Marine and his grandfather, Ray Owensby, served in all four military branches.But James Owensby said signing the papers allowing his young son to join the Marine Corps. and saying goodbye at Parris Island, left him “empty.”“I knew from experience that going through Parris Island, (J.W.) would never be the same,” James Owensby said from his front porch at his Gaffney home Friday.And in some ways, James Owensby said he was right.“I'm incredibly proud of my son's service,” James Owensby said. “Proud is a little bit of an understatement. He's a special man — and I believe if he wasn't my son, I would still say that. He gave a lot out there and for that, I'm forever thankful.”Owensby suffered traumatic brain injury, for which he still has frequent, sometimes severe, headaches, and a back injury when the mine resistant vehicle he was driving hit an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan on March 20, 2010.He doesn't remember much about the explosion, but was hospitalized for 25 days for his injuries.

The American Red Cross contacted Owensby's mother, Velina, but shared few details except that Owensby had been injured, but he would likely survive.It would be 25 long days before Owensby would be able to call his family via satellite telephone after returning to the field and rejoining his unit. James Owensby said it was a call he'll never forget.Driving on Interstate 26, Owensby said his cell phone rang in the early morning hours and his son was on the other end.“We have this thing between us that we toast with Red Bulls (energy drink) so I always had one with me in case he would call,” James Owensby said. “When he called, he asked if I had one and we toasted and talked for about an hour. Even through the rural parts of I-26, we never lost service.”The call was just long enough for the two to reconnect and for J.W. Owensby to reassure his father.Owensby would complete his tour in Afghanistan before returning home on June 14, 2010, just 11 days after his daughter was born.He received orders for his second mission in Afghanistan on June 15, 2011.“We knew when we left the first time that we would be coming back, so it wasn't a surprise to receive the orders, but it was tough leaving my wife (Kayla) and little girl,” Owensby said. “It added a whole new angle. Before, it was just me. Now, I had to think about the possibility of not being able to watch my little girl grow up — that was tough.”James Owensby said at that point, his faith in God was weak.“Christopher Fowlkes was a friend of my son's and I was scared because I'm human,” James Owensby said. “I had faith in my son, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't terrified.”

Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher Fowlkes died in 2009 after sustaining injuries while fighting in Iraq.When Owensby returned home for the final time in February, he decided to end his career with the Marines and was honorably discharged in June.Owensby's family chose Christopher Fowlkes's uncle, Mike Fowlkes, a fellow Marine who served in Desert Storm, to present J.W. with the Purple Heart during a surprise ceremony on Veteran's Day.It was through Christopher Fowlkes's service and sacrifice that Owensby realized the meaning behind the Purple Heart.“When Christopher was killed, I was at the funeral and watched as the Purple Heart league presented it to his family for the wounds he received,” Owensby said. “I remember it like it was yesterday.”Owensby said he was speechless when Mike Fowlkes presented him with the medal.“I was blown away,” Owensby said. “Absolutely blown away and humbled.”Fowlkes said he became friends with the Owensby family through the friendship Christopher and J.W. shared.“I was honored - more than honored to be asked to present the award to J.W.,” Fowlkes said. “He's an humble person who served this country well and we all should be thankful for his sacrifice and that of others who served and continue to serve.”

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